Reach out and Touch the Lord

This hymn was originally a short Gospel-style chorus, words and music by Bill Harmon. Copyright was registered in 1958 and renewed in 1986 by Gospel Publishing House.

This chorus has been published in many different books including More Songs of the Spirit and Mission Praise.   At various times the first line has been "as he passes by" - or walks by, or goes by, etc.

Harmon's original song did not include any verses.   But a great many have been written over the years - usually to the same tune as the chorus.    Tracing the copyright status of the verses has been very difficult:  If you have information about any specific verses, please leave a comment below.




Downloads

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Examples

Solo singer with piano backing:


Guitar backed small group:


Singer with guitar and mandolin:


Singer and band at a live worship event:


Family sing-along with piano:


Choir with band:


Singer with band, professional recording:


Lyrics

Chorus:
Reach out and touch the Lord, as He's passing by.
You'll find He's not too busy to hear your heart's cry.
He is passing by this moment, your needs He'll supply.
Reach out and touch the Lord, as He's passing by.


Some of the verses which have been located are:

If your heart is sad and lonely, there's no joy anywhere
There's no one left to comfort and no one left to care
Just cast your cares on Jesus and upon his arms rely

Tho' a stranger to the Master and his wonderful grace,
If you've never found the fortune in beholding his face
would you lay aside earth's treasures for a home in the sky?

All along a dusty roadside, on His way to raise the dead.
Mighty was the crowd that followed, hungry for that Living Bread.
"I must touch Him", cried a woman, "I must touch Him or I'll die."
So, she reached and touched His garment as he passed by.

On one dark and stormy night on the Sea of Galilee
The disciples were so fearful from the raging of the sea.
When along the rushing waters in the blackness of the night.
Came the blessed Lord of glory He made attempt to pass them by

As He walked the dusty wayside on His way to raise the dead.
Mighty were the crowds that thronged Him hungry for the living bread.
"I must touch Him," cried a woman, "I must touch Him, or I'll die"
So she reached out and touched Him as He passed by

Matthew sat in worldly honour, taking tax from all who came
Then one day the Lord passed by him and called him by his name
"Come and follow Me" He whispered "Do not wait to question why",
So he arose and followed Jesus as He passed by.

There's not a road too hard to travel, there's not a mountain too high to climb
There's no disease too hard for Jesus, so why sit there until you die?
Because He's passing by this moment your every need He will supply
So reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

On the Jerico road, sat a blind man one day
For he heard that the Saviour was passing that way
Oh Lord,thou Son of David, have mercy He cried
And he reached out and touched the Lord as He passed by.

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